Today's Edition
A.SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange’s (ADX) main index rose 1.1% in July, outperforming most GCC market indices, which recorded declines during the month, according to Kamco Invest’s GCC Equity Markets Monthly report.
The FTSE ADX General Index’s positive performance marked its second consecutive monthly gain after it also advanced 1.1% in June. The index closed July at 9,914.62 points.
Five of the ADX’s 10 sector indices recorded gains during the month, led by telecommunications, which advanced 5.7%. Emirates Telecommunications Group Company, or e&, rose 6%, supporting the sector’s performance.
The healthcare sector gained 2.6%, while the heavily weighted financial sector advanced 2.2%. Consumer discretionary stocks rose 1.5% and utilities added 1.1%.
Several financial stocks recorded gains during the month, including Hily Holding, which rose 18.4%. The company was also the ADX’s best-performing stock in July.
Al Buhaira National Insurance ranked second among the gainers with an increase of 16.7%, followed by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), which advanced 14.1%. FAB reported net profit growth of 1.1% YoY to Dh10.8 billion, underpinned by a 29.4% jump in income from Islamic financing and investing products, the Kamco Invest report noted.
Among the declining sectors, real estate recorded the steepest fall with 9.6%. Basic materials declined 3.6%, industrials fell 2.9%, energy lost 2% and consumer staples slipped 1.8%.
Phoenix Group recorded the largest decline among individual stocks, falling 28%. The crypto-miner turned data infrastructure company’s decline came after the company reported a loss of Dh91 million in Q2, 2026, down from a loss of Dh182.8 million in Q2, 2025, Kamco Invest noted.
Insurance House declined 13.5%, while Aldar Properties lost 10.3%.
Trading activity moderated following its growth in June. The total volume of shares traded declined 35.3% to 4.2 billion in July from 6.5 billion in the previous month. The value of transactions fell 23.4% to Dh21.9 billion from Dh28.6 billion.
Borouge was the most actively traded stock by volume, with 461.6 million shares changing hands. ADNOC Distribution followed with 456.4 million shares, while ADNOC Gas recorded a monthly volume of 352.9 million shares.
Aldar Properties led the exchange by traded value, with transactions worth Dh2.5 billion. Alpha Dhabi followed with Dh2.2 billion, while Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank recorded Dh1.8 billion in trades.
In Dubai, the Dubai Financial Market General Index declined 2.7% in July following a 3.4% gain in June, closing the month at 5,795.9 points. Three of its eight sector indices nevertheless recorded gains, reflecting selective strength within the market.
Materials was the strongest-performing sector, rising 6.9%, supported by an equivalent gain in National Cement Company, its only constituent. Communication services advanced 6.7%, while the financial sector gained 0.8%.
Consumer discretionary recorded the largest sectoral decline at 11.7%, followed by real estate at 7.5% and industrials at 5.9%. Consumer staples declined 2.2%, while utilities fell 2%.
Despite the main index’s pullback, several DFM-listed companies posted substantial gains. Dubai Refreshments Company topped the monthly gainers’ table with a rise of 30.5%. Islamic Arab Insurance advanced 20.4%, while National International Holding gained 19.4%.
Talabat Holding recorded the largest decline (14.6%), followed by Union Properties (13.1%) and Ekttitab Holding (10.7%).
The total volume of shares traded on the DFM declined 39.2% to 3.2 billion in July from 5.3 billion in June. The value of transactions fell 43.3% to Dh11.1 billion from Dh19.7 billion.
Talabat was the most active stock by volume, with 730.6 million shares traded. Drake & Scull International followed with 357.1 million shares, while Emaar Properties recorded a volume of 335.5 million shares.
Emaar Properties led the market by traded value, with transactions worth Dh3.9 billion. Emirates NBD followed with Dh1.4 billion, while Talabat recorded trades worth Dh849 million.
